Kalahari DesertBy: Daja Hicks

My biome is a Desert. Deserts are found across our planet along 2 fringes parallel to the equator at 25°-35° latitude. Deserts are arid or dry regions and receive less than 10 inches of rain per year. They contain succulent plants and animals that are adapted for survival in arid environments. The soil is based on sand and is reddish in color, low in organic material and is extremely dry.

Description

Kalahari Desert

The coordinates of the Kalahari Desert is:23.8334 degrees South, 22.0000 degrees

East

Location

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Monthly Climate Averages for Botswana

Minimum Temp. in FahrenheitMaximum Temp. in Fahrenheit

Months

Temperature in degrees Fahrenheit

Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec0

0.51

1.52

2.53

3.54

4.55

Monthly rainfall averages for Botswana

Rain fall in inches

Months

Rainfall in inches

Plants in Kalahari Grass Camel thorn tree Hoodia Cactus Black thorn Devil’s claw

Plant Adaptations The Camelthorn tree provides nutrients for other plants

and shrubs, which grow more densely around the trees, while their leaves and seeds provide food for animals. The shade of the tree also serves as refuge for animals during the day and some birds build their nest there.

The Hoodia Cactus has fleshy stems which branch near the ground and that’s where they store water and is able to thrive in extremely high temperatures. Rows of thorns are found along the stems and they have flowers on them. The hoodia has a flesh scent and that attracts insects. The insects form the fertilization for the hoodia. Hoodia can also be used for weight loss.

The Devil’s Claw survive up to 10 months and depends on a very deep root system. It has potato- like tubers that store water.

Most plants are succulent plants because the precipitation is so low and they have to store water quick in order to survive.

MeerkatGemsbokKalahari LionSocial WeaversFat- tailed Scorpion

Animals in Kalahari

The Meerkat mainly prey on insects and they are immune to venom allowing them to eat scorpions and snakes without being poisoned. Meerkats have a hairless patch on their bellies that they use to absorb the heat after cold desert nights.

The Gemsbok has long horns that are used in defense against the Kalahari Lions. They can survive weeks without drinking water. They rely on plants that store water or have mechanisms to prevent excess water loss. Some plants increase their water content by 25-40%, so when the gemsbok feed late at night or early in morning, the plants provide them with both food and water.

Animal Adaptations

The Kalahari Lions lives in smaller groups, covers larger home territories and hunts smaller prey. One thing it eats is the gemsbok. Their fur is lighter than that of lions elsewhere and is an excellent camouflage. Kalahari lions can go for weeks without drinking water and survive on very few prey. In the vast desert they must fight harder for their food than in other regions, because stalking is made more difficult by the open territory.

The African wild dog is an endangered species. They travel in packs of 40 or more can reach speeds of more than 44 miles per hour. The major threats to the survival of wild dogs is accidental and targeted killing by humans, diseases like rabies and distemper, habitat loss and competition with larger predators like lions.

The Botswana Predator Conservation Trusts attempts to keep African wild dogs away from farms and livestock using strategies such as scent deterrent so humans won’t kill them.

African Wild Dog

Pigeons is an invasive species to Botswana. These pigeons prefer to live near human habitation, such as farmland and buildings. They cause a lot of damage to buildings and monuments because of their corrosive droppings. They also pose a health hazard, since they are capable of transmitting a variety of diseases to humans and to domestic poultry and wildlife.

Things that could control the pigeons are discouraging people from feeding pigeons in public areas and clean up spilled grain around elevators, feed mills, and railcar clean-out areas. Eliminate pools of standing water that pigeons use for watering. Modify structures of buildings, to make them less attractive to pigeons.

Pigeons (Columba livia)

Major threats to the Kalahari Desert is bike riding because it can harm plants and infect the soil. Diverting water which can keep native plants from infrequent rainfall.

These threats can be prevented by not riding bikes often and to stop changing the water flow.

Human Impact

Desert-( of a number of people leave a place) causing it to appear empty.

Arid- having little or no rain; too dry or barren to support vegetation

Succulent- tender, juicy and tasty Cactus- a succulent plant with a thick,

fleshy stem that typically bears spines, lack leaves and has colored flowers.

Vocabulary

Shyama Pagad., A.A(05/29/2008). Columba livia (bird). Retrieved from http://issg.org/database/species/ecology.asp?si=1052&fr=1&sts=&lang=EN on (10/06/2014)

Scott E. Hygnstrom, A.A.,(2005). Controlling Pigeons. Retrieved from http://icwdm.org/handbook/birds/Pigeons.asp on (10/06/2014)

Rita Kennedy., A.A(2002). Plants and animals of the Kalahari Desert. Retrieved from http://traveltips.usatoday.com/plants-animals-kalahari-desert-62951.html on(10/07/2014)

George Bentrand Silberbauer., A.A.(5/06/2014). Plant Life http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/309972/Kalahari/36990/Plant-life on (10/07/2014)

Convention on Biological Diversity., A.A(2006). Endemic Species of Kalahari Desert http://www.cbd.int/programmes/outreach/awareness/kalahari.shtml on (10/7/2014)

Sources